The latest news from GenV
No images? Click here
GenView edition #13 | NOV 2025
Four years of discovery, collaboration and growing impact
Last month marked four years since GenV opened its birth window - welcoming every child born in Victoria between October 2021 and October 2023, and their parents. Along with our smaller Advance Cohort, they are helping to build a national resource designed to help improve child and adult health and wellbeing - here in Australia and around the world.
GenV parents see this value unfolding as we heard from Tricia, who said, “GenV is a gift to the world!”
GenV is powered by families. Over the past year, their survey answers and GenV & Me app activities have helped researchers learn more about things like early nutrition (see article below) and language development. These discoveries start with our diverse and engaged cohort - and they’re shaping better outcomes for children everywhere.
From mid-2026, researchers, policymakers and other users will be able to request access to GenV’s first major data release - including biosamples from Australia’s largest and most inclusive child–parent biobank. This never-before-achieved resource reflects years of preparation and the diversity of our cohort, giving researchers data that are truly representative and able to deliver more equitable, relevant results.
We’re deeply grateful to the thousands of families, researchers, and partners who have made this journey possible - and who continue to shape GenV into a platform that can deliver research for innovation, equity, and impact.
Wishing you a happy and restful summer break. We look forward to reconnecting in 2026 as we continue this important work together.
Professor Melissa Wake and Ms Natasha Zaritski, GenV Directors
With the GenV Leadership Team
Collaborative Studies: Food, Policy and the Power of GenV
New data from the GenV Food Survey is helping policymakers understand how early nutrition shapes children’s health.
In just 2 months, more than 7,000 GenV parents took part in the Food Survey - the largest of its kind - a rapid, representative response that demonstrates GenV’s unique ability to generate policy-ready evidence fast.
Executive Manager of the Food for Health Alliance, Jane Martin, says GenV is helping create the evidence base needed for stronger, fairer standards:
“Currently, there are too many products in supermarkets masquerading as ‘wholesome’ options, when in fact they pack as much sugar as gummy bears. GenV’s data help us show why this must change.”
Professor Melissa Wake says this kind of collaboration is exactly what GenV was built for:
“GenV’s scale and diversity mean we can answer national questions like this quickly, effectively, and with data that truly reflects today’s families. It’s the foundation for better policy - and better health - for every child.”
Read more about how GenV’s collaborative studies are driving policy impact.
GenV’s Profile Paper: Defining a Global Research Platform
Following the release of our Protocol Paper earlier this year, GenV’s Profile Paper will soon be published - marking another major milestone.
Together, these foundational publications formally establish GenV as one of the world’s most comprehensive, inclusive and accessible cohort resources.
Keep an eye on our new LinkedIn account, where we’ll share the publication first and highlight how researchers and partners can use GenV data in 2026.
In case you missed it - recent highlights
It’s been a busy few months for GenV, with new research, media coverage and milestones to celebrate. We apologise for articles behind paywalls (marked with **).
● GenV celebrates four years - read how far we’ve come.
● GenV in ABC Health Report - sharing how GenV’s data are helping us understand how the world around us shapes our health.
● GenV on Fox News – GenV Deputy Director, Professor Sharon Goldfeld spent Children’s Day in New York showcasing Australia’s leadership in child health.
● American Australian Association Lunch (New York) - highlighting how GenV’s whole-of-state, diverse cohort offers globally relevant data - strengthening international partnerships and showcasing Australia’s leadership in accelerating solutions for child and family wellbeing.
● **Research Professional News - exploring GenV’s world-first scale and inclusivity.
● **GenV in Wall Street Journal - a call for clearer baby food labelling, highlighting how GenV data can help prevent childhood obesity from the start.
● BioGrid case study - behind the scenes in our biobank data linkage.
● Medical Journal of Australia article - Argues that GenV offers Australia a rare chance not just to expand early childhood education and care (ECEC), but to optimise it.
● GenV keynote lecture at Murdoch Children’s Research Institute - showcasing how GenV is turning prevention in action into real-world research impact.
● GenV on Channel 7 News – GenV Scientific Director, Professor Melissa Wake explains the scale of GenV’s Food Survey and challenges facing parents.
Looking ahead
Next year, GenV will move into a new phase of engagement and collaboration - opening doors for even more researchers to work with GenV’s data, biosamples, and parent and child cohorts.
In the next GenView in mid-2026, stay tuned for updates on our Intervention Hub, 2026 data access framework and planning the foundations for an early school checkpoint.
Are you considering a new child, parent or family study? Have you thought about collaborating with GenV?
GenV is Australia’s largest-ever longitudinal cohort of children and parents.
Find out more here.
Missed an edition? Find all previous GenView newsletters here.
GenV is led by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), supported by The Royal Children’s Hospital and The University of Melbourne, and funded by the Paul Ramsay Foundation, the Victorian Government, The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation, the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Medical Research Future Fund.
